This was a sidebar for the unpublished piece I wrote on childbirth.

There’s no shortage of parenting books and resources available for parents, but here are some of our favourites.

Baby Love is the Australian bible of parenting books. Written by former child health nurse Robin Barker, it’s a practical guide to the first twelve months of your child’s life and covers everything from feeding, sleeping and, yes, even pooping.

If you find yourself fixated on everything that might go wrong during your pregnancy, pick up a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff. This book provides answers to almost every question you’ll have about your pregnancy in a balanced and reassuring way.

For a more humorous take on pregnancy and motherhood, try Up The Duff—Aussie slang for pregnant—by cartoonist Kaz Cooke. This book takes a look at what you might experience week by week during pregnancy, as well as coping with a newborn baby, in a way that’s sure to make you laugh.

There’s also a huge number of free online resources for pregnant women and parents:

• BabyCenter at www.babycenter.com.au can send you weekly newsletters with relevant information about your baby’s development
• Essential Baby at www.essentialbaby.com.au provides a forum for mums to ask questions and share their parenting experiences
• Raising Children Network at www.raisingchildren.net.au is packed with articles and expert advice on caring for children up to school age
• If you’re expecting twins or multiples, contact the Australian Multiple Births Association at www.amba.org.au (membership incurs a fee)

Finally, if you’re about to become a Lola (grandmother), many hospitals now offer grandparenting classes, which might be particularly useful if you’d like to know more about current childbirth and parenting practices in Australia.